The Forest of the Weird was named by NOAA researchers, who have seen some supremely weird things in their careers. While exploring "Ridge" Seamount during the 2017 Laulima O Ka Moana: Exploring Deep Monument Waters Around Johnston Atoll expedition, remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer encountered an deep-sea alien-like community composed almost exclusively of glass sponges with their concave sides directed towards the current. Given its almost fictional appearance, scientists dubbed the community the “forest of the weird.”